Door clamp



J. B. SANDO Oct. 22, 1935.

DOOR CLAMP Filed Feb. 9, 1934 M 1 f My J4 ru E h v w 4 j q F Z /i 0 4 a A F I Patented Oct. 22, 1935 ETED STATES ArENr DOOR CLABIP Application February 9, 1934, Serial No. 710,489

13 Claims.

This invention relates to means for clamping the sliding doors of washing machine cylinders and the like, whereby the doors in closed position may be secured against rattling and the consequent wear, damage to the goods being handled, and so on.

Such clamping means is not new, an arrangement for the purpose appearing in Patent No. 1,657,181, issued to me January 24, 1928. The objects of the present invention are generally to improve upon the arrangement of the said patent.

More particularly, an object is to provide for simultaneous clamping of both edges of one door or of a number of doors by a single operation required of the operator.

Another object is to provide clamping means of an irreversible nature, self-sustaining in any clamping position to which it may be adjusted.

And another object is to provide that the clamping means occupy negligible space and particularly, space beyond the cylinder. For the purpose a single removable operating member is provided, to be withdrawn by the operator after completion of the clamping operation whereby to provide clearance between the cylinder and the usual tub within which it is rotatably mounted.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is an assembly view showing a typical cylinder in which the invention is embodied; Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of the actuating part of the door clamping means appearing in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail generally in the plane of lines 33, Figs. 1 and 2, Fig. 3 also including the operating member not appearing in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail of one of the clamping bands, as in the plane of line 4-4, Fig. l, were that plane adjacent the fixed end of the band; Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged details of the adjustable end of one of the bands, Fig. 5 being as in the plane of line 55, Fig. 6, and Fig. 6 being in front elevation; Fig. '7 is a sectional detail as in the plane of line 'l1, Fig. 6; and Fig. 8 is a detail illustrating the sealing means at the upper edge of one of the doors appearing in Fig. 1.

With reference now to the drawing, I indicates generally a cylinder having a pair of longitudinally alined side openings each having a. door 2 therefor. Each door is mounted for circumferentially sliding motion to control its opening, in suitable ways as indicated, Fig. 4. The doors are shown as in closed position, their upper edges being sealed as indicated, Fig. 8. Hand receiving openings 3 are provided in the doors whereby they may be raised and lowered, Fig. 1, for opening and closing respectively. 6

For clamping the doors as in closed position, clamping bands 4 are provided, each band being in overlying relation with a side edge of one or more doors. Thus where two doors are employed, as in Fig. 1, three bands are provided, one 10 at each end of the cylinder overlying the near door edge, as indicated, Fig. 4; and a single central band disposed between the doors to overlie the near edges of each. Each band extends upwardly and rearwardly, Fig. l, to a point beyond the position of its door when open, and is secured at that end, the upper end, Fig. 1 as by the bolt means shown in Fig. 4. 4

What has thus far been described is not new in the art, and it will be apparent that by vertical adjustment of the lower extremities of the clamping bands they will have clamping effect upon their doors to secure the latter against the cylinder.

For this purpose I provide a shaft 5 running longitudinally of the cylinder adjacent the lower or near edges of the door openings, and at the opposite ends of the clamping bands 4 from the secured ends of the latter. The shaft 5 is rotatably mounted in suitable brackets 6, one at each clamping band 4, the brackets being carried by the cylinder as indicated. Each band 4 has a head 7 adjacent the shaft 5 having an opening 1 through which the shaft extends, the openings 1 being elongated as indicated Figs. 5 and 7 in a direction to permit adjustment of the band ends in tightening and loosening direction, that is, concentric with the axis of the cylinder. Each head I is provided with one or more shoulders 8 longitudinally alined. Secured upon the shaft 5 adjacent each shoulder 8 is a collar member 9 having a shoulder I6 cooperative in abutting relation with its shoulder 8 to force the latter downwardly in the drawing and thereby tighten the corresponding clamping band 4 against its corresponding doors 2. It will be noted that the shoulders 8 and III are so located relative to the bands 4 and the shaft 5 that the shoulder faces are substantially normal to the direction of motion as the bands are tightened. I

Means are provided for rotational adjustment of the shaft 5 to control the clamping bands. For this purpose a pinion member II is mounted on the cylinder in a suitable bracket l2 in which the shaft 5' has bearing, and the shaft 5 is prothe cylinder, the operator, by a single adjusting vided with teeth meshing with those of the pinion II as indicated Figs. 2 and 3. As indicated, the pinion II is carried upon a stud screw I3 turned into the bracket l2. The arrangement of their interengaging gear teeth, and particularly the pitch relation thereof, is such that the shaft 5 may be rotated by rotation of the pinion II, yet the shaft cannot rotate the pinion. In other words, the nature of the drive between gears is what is known as irreversible or unidirectional.

For actuation of the gear I I an operating member is provided, here shown as the handle l4, removably associated with the gear II. For the purpose, the gear has a socket to receive the shank part E5 of the handle 14. shank and socket being square as indicated Figs. 2 and 3, or otherwise deformed suitable for the purpose of rotating the gear I i by the handle.

That the adjusted position of the parts may be readily apparent to the operator, an indicator I6 may be mounted upon the gear II to move over suitable indicia provided on the cylinder as the off and on words indicated Fig. 2.

Operation will be apparent. The operator, by inserting the handle [4 into its socket, may adjust the shaft 5 as desired to tighten or loosen simultaneously all of the bands 4, thereby securing or releasing both doors 2. of the doors in closed position, as after loading movement of the handle, may clamp all of the doors, effectively locking them closed. Thereafter removal of the handle leaves the cylinder without projection beyond the brackets I2 and 6, Which latter project but little beyond the general contour of the cylinder. After removal of the handle, the doors remain secured, since the shaft 5 is locked by the pinion ll against releasing motion owing to the irreversible described characteristic of the interengaging gear teeth.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine of the class described and comprising a cylinder having a side opening and a ,circumferentially slidable door therefor, means for securing said door and comprising a circumferentially extending clamping band arranged with an intermediate part in overlying relation with said door and having an end part secured with said cylinder, at rock shaft mounted longitudinally extending on said cylinder, means connecting part of said band with said rock shaft to provide tightening of said intermediate band part against said door dependent upon rotary adjustment of said shaft, an operating member, and gear means arranged to transmit motion irreversibly from said operating member to said shaft.

2. In a machine of the class described and comprising a cylinder having a side opening and a circumferentially slidable door therefor, means for securing said door and comprising a circumferentially extending clamping band arranged with an intermediate part in overlying relation with said door and having an end part secured with said cylinder, a rock shaft mounted longitudinally extending on said cylinder, means connecting part of said band with said rock shaft to provide tightening of said intermediate band part against said door dependent upon rotary adjustment of said shaft and including a head for said band and a cooperative member secured on said shaft, said head and cooperative member having shoulders interengageable for the purpose, and means for adjusting said shaft.

3. In a machine of the class described and com- After securement' prising a cylinder having a side opening and a circumferentially slidable door therefor, means for securing said door and comprising a circumferentially extending clamping band arranged with an intermediate part in overlying relation with said door and having an end part secured with said cylinder, a rock shaft mounted longitudinally extending on said cylinder, means connecting part of said band with said rock shaft to provide tightening of said intermediate band part against said door dependent upon rotary adjustment of said shaft and including a head for said band and a cooperative member secured on said shaft, said head and cooperative member having shoulders interengageable for the purpose, means for adjusting said shaft, said band head having an opening to receive said shaft and to permit clamping motion of said head thereon.

4. In a machine of the class described and comprising a cylinder having a side opening and a circumferentially slidable door therefor, means for s'ecuringsaid door and comprising a circumferentially extending clamping band arranged with an intermediate part in overlying relation with said door and having an end part secured with said cylinder, a rock shaft mounted longitudinally extending on said cylinder, means connecting part of said band with said rock shaft toprovide tightening of said intermediateband part against said door dependent upon rotary adjustment of said shaft and includinga head for said band and a cooperative member secured on said shaft, said head and cooperative member having shoulders interengageable for the purposameans for adjusting said shaft, said band head having an opening to receive said shaft and elongated to limit motion of said head to clamp-controlling directions.

5. In a machine of the class described and comprising a cylinder rotatable within a closely surrounding casing and having a side opening and a circumferentially slidable door therefor, means for securing said door and comprising a circum ferentially extending clamping band arranged with an intermediate part in overlying relation with said door and having an end part secured with said'cylinder, a rock shaft mounted longicircumferentially slidable door therefor, means for securing said door and comprising a circumferentially extending clamping band arranged with an intermediate part in overlying relation with said door and having an end part secured with said cylinder, a rock shaft mounted longitudinally extending on said cylinder, means connecting part of said band with said rock shaft to provide tightening of said intermediate band part against said door dependent upon rotary adjustment of said shaft, an operating member, and gear means arranged to transmit motion irreversibly from said operating member to said shaft, said operating member being mounted for removal from said cylinder, whereby said door may remain secured by said clamping band after removal of said operating member.

7. In a machine of the class described and comprising a cylinder rotatable within a closely surrounding casing and having a side opening and a circumferentially slidable door therefor, means for securing said door and comprising a circumferentially extending clamping band arranged with an intermediate part in overlying relation with said door and having an end part secured with said cylinder, a rock shaft mounted longitudinally extending on said cylinder, means connecting part of said band with said rock shaft to provide tightening of said intermediate band part against said door dependent upon rotary adjustment of said shaft, an operating member, and gear means arranged to transmit motion from said operating member tosaid shaft, said gear means including a pinion member having an actuating socket opening outwardly of said cylinder, said operating member being arranged to removably fit in said socket whereby removal of said operating member leaves the space between said cylinder and casing unobstructed.

8. In a machine of the class described and comprising a cylinder having a side opening and a circumferentially slidable door therefor, means for securing said door and comprising a pair of circumferentially extending clamping bands arranged with intermediate parts in overlying relation with the opposite edges of said door, each having an end part secured with said cylinder, a rock shaft mounted longitudinally extending on said cylinder adjacent said door, means connecting parts of said bands with said rock shaft to provide simultaneous tightening of said intermediate band parts against said door dependent upon rotary adjustment of said shaft, an operating member, and gear means arranged to transmit motion from said operating member to said shaft.

9. In a machine of the class described and comprising a cylinder having a side opening and a circumferentially slidable door therefor, means for securing said door and comprising a pair of circumferentially extending clamping bands arranged with intermediate parts in overlying relation with the opposite edges of said door, each having an end part secured with said cylinder, a rock shaft mounted longitudinally extending on said cylinder adjacent said door, means connecting parts of said bands with said rock shaft to provide simultaneous tightening of said intermediate band parts against said door dependent upon rotary adjustment of said shaft, an operating member, and gear means arranged to transmit motion irreversibly from said operating member to said shaft.

10. In a machine of the class described and comprising a cylinder having a plurality of side openings and a circumferentially slidable door for each, means for coincidentally securing said doors and comprising a plurality of circumferentially extending clamping bands arranged each with an intermediate part in overlying relation with one of said doors, and an end part secured with said cylinder, a rock shaft mounted longitudinally extending on said cylinder adjacent all of said openings, means connecting a part of each band with said rock shaft to provide tightening of said intermediate band parts against their said doors dependent upon rotary adjustment of said shaft, an operating member, and gear means arranged to transmit motion from said operating member to said shaft.

11. In a machine of the class described and comprising a cylinder having a plurality of side openings and a circumferentially slidable door for each, means for coincidentally securing said doors and comprising a plurality of circumferentially extending clamping bands arranged each with an intermediate part in overlying relation with one of said doors, and an end part secured with said cylinder, a rock shaft mounted longitudinally extending on said cylinder adjacent all of said openings, means connecting a part of each band with said rock shaft to provide tightening of said intermediate band parts against their said doors dependent upon rotary adjustment of said shaft, an operating member, and gear means arranged totransmit motion irreversibly from said operating member to said shaft.

12. In a machine of the class described and comprising a cylinder having a side opening and a circumferentially slidable door therefor, means for securing said door and comprising a circumferentially extending clamping band arranged with an intermediate part in overlying relation with said door and having an end part secured with said cylinder, a rock shaft mounted longitudinally extending on said cylinder, means con necting part of said band with said rock shaft to provide tightening of said intermediate band part against said door dependent upon rotary adjustment of said shaft, an operating member, and gear means arranged to transmit motion from said operating member to said shaft, said gear means including a pinion member having 4 an actuating socket opening outwardly of said cylinder, said operating member being arranged to removably fit in said socket, said pinion member having means for indicating the adjusted r curing position by rotary adjustment of said shaft, an operating member, and gear means arranged to transmit motion irreversibly from said operating member to said shaft.

. JOSEPH B. SANDO. 

